State hopes to untangle Jay-K intersection

Tuesday

Jan 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMJan 29, 2008 at 12:03 PM

The so-called Jay-K intersection could be headed for a reconstruction that might include widening of roads to ease traffic congestion, state transportation officials said Monday. A study that could cost up to $500,000 is underway to assess possible options for improving the Commercial Drive and Seneca Turnpike intersection.

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CHINKI SINHA

NEW HARTFORD - The so-called Jay-K intersection could be headed for a reconstruction that might include widening of roads to ease traffic congestion, state transportation officials said Monday.

A study that could cost up to $500,000 is underway to assess possible options for improving the Commercial Drive and Seneca Turnpike intersection, said Neil Palmer of the state State Department of Transportation.

THREE OPTIONS
The state Department of Transportation is considering these options for fixing the intersection of Commercial Drive and Seneca Turnpike:

1. Reconfigure traffic lights.

2. Widen the roads.

3. Create new intersections to take pressure off the intersection.
BUSY INTERSECTION
* 25,000 drivers use the west side of the Jay-K intersection every day.

* 36,000 commuters use the east side of it.

* About 30 accidents occurred on the intersection in the three-year period from mid-2004 until mid-2007.

Source: State Department of Transportation
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That study is examining the impact of possible options on the environment and on neighboring properties. It is still two years from completion.

After that, $2 million might be spent to improve traffic flow, state officials say.

Many drivers routinely complain to the town and state about the intersection near Jay-K Independent Lumber Co., where a left-hand turn from Commercial Drive onto Seneca Turnpike can become a driving adventure.

With Middle Settlement Road and state Route 5B intersecting nearby, drivers who might be shopping, headed into Utica or commuting to Clinton all converge in a potentially hazardous tangle of vehicles.

Among the factors spurring plans for improvements:

Accidents: There were about 30 collisions at the intersection from mid-2004 until mid-2007, statistics show. Half of them resulted in injuries to drivers or passengers.

“It has been a problem area,” Palmer said.

Commercial Drive growth: The addition of Consumer Square and The Orchard in recent years has pushed more traffic onto Commercial Drive.

Business park: Town officials plan to extend Woods Highway from Seneca Turnpike to state Route 840, enabling it to serve a new business park that inevitably will bring more traffic to the area.

Truck driver's concerns
Last year, the state added lanes to ease traffic flow on a three-quarter mile stretch of Commercial Drive from Kmart Plaza to Seneca Turnpike.

But the project stopped short of the Jay-K intersection.

Sauquoit resident Eugene Ray, a delivery-truck driver for Independent Courier, said more must be done. He often uses the intersection and finds it difficult to navigate.

“They put a ton of money right down and stopped,” he said, pointing at the new lanes that were added last summer. “The intersection is more of a problem. A small accident can back up the traffic.”

For businesses such as J-Kay and Zebbs Grill & Bar, fixing the intersection is a priority.

“People come off Commercial Drive and try to go west on Route 5 and Middle Settlement Road,” said Pete Sanders, the general manager at Zebbs. The traffic does not flow and people can't see where they are going.”

He suggested a widening of nearby Middle Settlement Road, where Lowe's Home Improvement recently opened.

For J-Kay Lumber, an arrow sign marking the left turn into the company's parking lot would be a good solution, President Dean Kelly said.

“It is confusing,” he said. “It is a dangerous intersection. We are optimistic they will do it without detrimentally affecting our business.”

For Big Apple Music store owner Peter Bolos, the $2 million could be spent on repairing other county or state highways because he does not think the congestion is too bad at the intersection, particularly after Route 840 opened.

“I don't see a problem,” he said. “At one point I thought there was a need for it. Up until two years ago … but not anymore.”

Years of concerns
A town study in 1992 indicated the intersection would suffer from a capacity problem, Town Board member Robert Payne said.

He said he supports easing traffic and addressing safety concerns there.

“I am always concerned because of the large volume of traffic,” Payne said. “It will be of benefit to all.”

While it will be a few years until any physical changes are made, the study is a good start, Police Chief Raymond Philo said.

“They are incredibly expensive,” he said of such projects. “We would like to get that addressed.”